Did you know there is a tiny cemetery on the grounds of Five Towns College in Dix Hills that dates to the 1700s? We ultimately found the Town’s event sign at the far end of the parking lot. We walked along the edge of the woods toward the back of the main building until we found a white Town of Huntington pickup truck next to a big pile of mulch. We arrived at Nostrand Cemetery, named after Jacobus Nostrand, the first person from the family to be buried there, just as the team of volunteers was taking a much needed break.

Robert Hughes, Huntington Town Historian, New York State Assemblyman Keith Brown, Ellen Guerrero, Huntington Planning Department, Mark Tyree, Parks Maintenance Supervisor, General Services were busy working together with the other volunteers pulling out tons of English Ivy for several hours with tools donated by Reworld. They took time out to speak with us in detail about the Voluntary Cemetery Restoration project and the Nostrand family of farmers – watch the video for the details. Seven people were buried in this small cemetery, 2 of whom were Veterans of the Revolutionary War – Jacobus Nostrand and David Ketcham.

A few of the historic grave markers have fallen and are broken, likely caused by a combination of vegetation overgrowth and weathering. Robert Hughes plans to have them repaired and restored by professional Monument Conservators.

There are 20 Town-owned cemeteries in the Town of Huntington and each will be restored and cleaned up before the 250th Anniversary of American Independence in July 2026.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the clean up of the 16 remaining cemeteries, the team meets on the 2nd Saturday of the Month through November, resuming again in the Spring when the weather clears. Sign up on the Town of Huntington Website and you will receive an email with the details for the next clean up. Bring your own garden tools if you have them – gloves, shovels, pruning shears, etc. – and wear long pants and long sleeves to protect yourself in case poison ivy is present.

Thank you for all who have collaborated together to get this done. Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth, Councilman Sal Ferro, Assemblyman Keith Brown, Town Historian Robert Hughes, Paws of War, Huntington General Services, and Reworld.

Quick Link To Volunteer: https://www.huntingtonny.gov/content/13747/25768/47495/47497/default.aspx

Photography by Diane Schaber, Videography by June Margolin. Copyright 2025 – All rights reserved.

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